Antonescu denies PNL intends to joining EPP

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PNL president Crin Antonescu said Friday on Antena 3 that there never was any discussion about affiliating the party with the EPP. The idea of PNL joining the EPP surfaced in the media at the middle of last week. The former president of PDL, Emil Boc said that “socialist-inclined parties” are not accepted in EPP and “as long as PNL melted in the PSD, it does not have many chances to join the EPP.” Sources with the PNL leadership had told gândul.info that in 2013 the party will accede to the European People’s Party (EPP) based on a decision that will be made by the statutory structures of the party. In his turn, PNL vice-president Marian Petrache, also the leader of PNL Ilfov said for Gandul that PNL might affiliate itself with EPP in 2013. The spokesman of EPP, Kostas Sasmatzoglou told Mediafax Thursday that PNL has not filed any formal application to adhere the European People’s Party, which is the first step in the affiliation process. Also Friday, Crin Antonescu said that he supports the expulsion from the party of Baia Mare mayor Catalin Chereches, because he acted against the Liberal candidates, but if the same measure is demanded against District 1 mayor Andrei Chiliman, he would opt for a delay. He added that an extraordinary congress of PNL should be held, so Andrei Chiliman or Ludovic Orban may run for top positions in the party. The PNL mayor of Bucharest District 1, Andrei Chiliman said Friday on B1 TV that he will struggle to bring PNL in line with its traditional values and pro-west stance, a battle in which he also relies on the support of Calin Popescu Tariceanu.